This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
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I had arrived in LHR the night before from Cork after a teeny, tiny hiccup of a delayed flight which left an hour and a half late and not the originally projected two hours. The inbound had been delayed because of thunderstorms earlier at LHR but had turned around with a speed worthy of Mr O'Leary's airline and after a perfectly acceptable flight, had deposited me ready for my VS adventure the next day. The travel gods smiled on me thereafter. A hoppa bus arrived almost as soon as I arrived at the bus stop and soon at midnight, I was tucked up in bed in the Sheraton Skyline which Priceline had provided for a song. [|)]
Early next morning the alarm call roused me from a deep slumber and soon I was hopping once more on a hoppa bus back to the airport. A welcome change here was that the bus now stopped outside departures at Terminal 3 so no more running the gauntlet of the crowds in the Arrivals area. It was a mere hop and a step to the VS check-in area. The Upper Class check-in area was busy and ahead of me was an elderly American couple accompanied by a porter and a mound of luggage. The wife looked at me disdainfully in the manner of New York matriarchs but I refused to be cowed and just smiled sweetly back at her, whereupon she became quite flustered and looked away. At that point a desk became free so a draw was declared and they moved forward. A VS staff member who had been talking to them then came to me, looked at my e-ticket and the desks and suggested that I check in upstairs at the Drive-through desk. I was delighted! I was instructed to go to the security door, press the buzzer and say 'X sent me to check in'. Patiently she repeated 'X. sent. me. to. check. in.' and made me repeat it. I felt I was back in school and being sent with a message to the principal! [:D] Highly amused by this and feeling somewhat like a secret agent I headed up in the lift, gave the password and the door swung open to admit me. The check in lady was coming down from the drive through area to greet me and check in was as pleasant an experience as it could be. While I was being checked in I mentioned that I had been offered the opportunity of using the DTCI as part of the trial but had chosen not to take it up as I didn't know if it would work with taxis but she informed me that quite a few taxis had used it. I liked the privacy and exclusivity of it and it certainly beats waiting for a desk to be free - or else being sent to an Economy desk which has happened in the past. One thing I noticed was that my bag was not weighed. OK, so I only had the one and it was relatively small but I found it interesting nonetheless. I'm easily entertained! [:o)]
Security was its usual easy self in the Upper Class area and of course now that the shoe carnival is gone, it is much easier to move away from the main security area as there is plenty of space for families to re-group. A quick trot through Duty Free dodging the perfume sprayers had me in no time at all at the foot of the staircase leading to the wonderland that is the Clubhouse. I never tire of seeing those stairs and always feel special when mounting them. At the top was the usual warm welcome and I was admitted through its portals and into the brasserie for brekkie which for me was the usual (and wonderful) Eggs Benedict along with orange juice and tea. Once replete (after all I hadn't eaten since arriving in Cork airport at about 6pm the previous evening) I sought out Marked Man whom I quickly and easily identified. As I said in one of my posts he is as nice a guy as you could wish to meet and a very easy companion. A hovering bar staff took my order and champagne was the order of the day before presenting myself at the Cowshed for a rather wonderful facial. This was the best I have ever had there and I emerged feeling like a new person and that all was well with the world. [y] When I returned MM headed off for his treatment and on his return we settled down for a very pleasant chat, all the while surfing the net. We were sitting in the bar area near the laptops and I found the PA there to be quite indistinct. I always seem to end up there (I blame Bazz. When we first went to the new part of the Clubhouse a group of us were meeting and he had set up camp there. I seem to drift to that corner out of habit!!) At one stage a page was put out 'Mumble, mumble, mumble, passenger to San Francisco, mumble, mumble, mumble, concierge desk'. MM asked 'Was that you?' I didn't know but decided to check. The girl I approached said she hadn't and checked with the girl on her left. No, she wasn't seeking me but the girl on her right, when questioned, affirmed that indeed she had.
'Mrs honey lamb, you are travelling alone? I wonder if we could move you to another window seat?'
'Which one?'
'20A'
I frowned as I tried to remember where 20A was and just as I was recollecting that it was near the toilets, she misinterpreted my frown for disapproval.
'Or we could offer you 12K'
Now 12A and K have been touted on V-Flyer as an ideal couple or family seat and the fact of its availability to a singleton was surprising but it did have its attractions. However I had to know why they wanted me to move. If it was a zeleb throwing a hissy fit, no dice! No, there was a family split up and they were trying to relocate them together. There were three infants! [:0] And 20A? There was an infant in the opposite suite (well it was a bassinet position) Quick as a flash I accepted 12K. The concierge gave a huge sigh of relief and thanked me profusely, issuing me with a new boarding pass. I went away feeling like someone like St Francis of Assissi, truly ennobled by my good deed. Shortly after there was another 'Mumble, mumble, mumble' which MM thought might have been me but fortunately it was for someone whose first syllables of their name could have sounded like mine.
We were soon approaching our witching hour of departure and again there was another 'Mumble, mumble, mumble' of which I thought I heard Los Angeles. This presaged a mass exodus from the Clubhouse and I began to wonder if our flight had been called also. A quick trip to the Ladies past the departures board revealed that the flight was closing at Gate 19 and on my return the second call came out. MM and I gathered our belongings and headed off to where V-FAB was waiting for us. At the gate area we were pleasantly surprised to see the gate area empty and also two doors in operation for boarding with the result that we were able to walk straight on to the aircraft. Yay! Priority boarding worked and it was all we could do not to do high fives!! [^]
Once settled in the seat I took the opportunity to examine my surroundings and I must say I really liked 12K and can see the attraction for families. However as a single traveller I never felt that the person in 12A was 'in my face' and it did feel rather exclusive. I should mention that I didn't fall into the trap of looking for the overhead bin but as there was no cabin crew around at the time to stow my bags, I perused the other bins. Although they had seemed full I realised that the duvets were there as well and so, seeing a bin with only one bag in it , I moved the duvet on top of the case while I hoisted up my carry-on. Quick as a flash the guy in the seat underneath jumped up and shifted the duvet back on top of my bag! An eye-rolling moment! [ii] A glass of champagne was then presented and I settled back to prepare for the flight. Pushback was on time, the queue for the runway was short and ten minutes later we were airborne.
When the drinks round started I rather cheekily asked if there was any Tanqueray 10. [:w] She stated she didn't think so and offered Bombay Sapphire. Lime? Again she thought it was a no but shortly afterwards arrived with the requisite green sliver bobbing about in the glass. At this stage I was scanning through the movies on offer and deciding that none of them interested me when all of a sudden the cabin crew fetched up beside me. 'Mrs honey lamb, we have found some Tanqueray Ten on board. Would you like me to replace that with some?' Would I not! Suddenly, contrary to all expectations I was in possession with a T10&T with lime. And of course a second one! [y]
For lunch I had the smoked salmon and spelt salad which was very tasty but it was much too generous a helping for me. I had actually thought of foregoing the starter but my eyes were bigger than my stomach and so I left some. I then had the asparagus risotto which was divine and I would easily have eaten another. This was followed by the roulade which again was very nice and it was all washed down by the Australian Shiraz. I can't remember if there was a second helping of wine but I certainly enjoyed my lunch - it was one of the best I had for a long time.
After lunch we passed over Iceland when I managed to take some photos and I read for a bit but got bored and as I had finished the bottle of water at the seat, decided to go down to the bar for some more. There I got chatting to a honeymoon couple who were spending it in San Francisco. Everyone at the bar was giving tips of what to do and where to go and soon MM joined us and gave the benefit of his local knowledge. It was a very good fun time, especially as I noticed the bottle of T10 behind the bar and decided that I really must have one more for old time's sake and later MM noticed that there was just one more serving left in the bottle and decided it couldn't go to a better home. So honey lamb finished off the last bottle of T10 on V-FAB and there was none left for the returning passengers (including Robin Williams - sorry, Robin) [:X]
By this time it was nearly time for the second meal service and so we returned to our seats. The sandwiches were very tasty but very slightly dry - not so dry as to be unpleasant but just so you would know it. I enjoyed them and the Victoria sponge was delicious. Definitely a thumbs up for the food on this flight.
Soon we were on our final approach into San Francisco. It had been a superlative flight and certainly I was not aware of any diminution in service caused but the reduction in staff. Although not addressed by name on arrival at the aircraft I certainly was thereafter and felt that I received a very personal service. I haven't mentioned the FSM and honestly can't remember him/her (although I think it was a 'him'). It didn't matter. It was a great flight. It also helped having MM onboard. although we didn't live in each other's pockets, it was nice to have someone to touch base with from time to time. Thanks Marked Man! [^]
We touched down on time and was re-assured that the other international flights seemed to have been in for some time and there was no sign of the BA flight. We headed down to a nearly empty Immigration hall to a very nice immigration officer who teased me about not filling in one part of a form (I always manage that!) and welcomed me to the US. I really felt he meant it. Shortly after the bags came through and in fairness MM had waited till mine came through, bless him.
Once through Customs and Immigration we parted company, he to head for home and me to head up to the Clubhouse to present Claire with her V-Flyer Heroes award and also to meet up with the Virgin America representative and arrange their presentation. The Clubhouse was busy and so I waited till the flight was called before handing over the award. It was then I had the most disappointing moment of the flight. Once the Clubhouse was empty I was told that Robin Williams had been sitting behind where I was standing * wail of despair*. Still you have to admire her professionalism that she didn't nudge me and point to him as I surely would have done if the roles had been reversed. No wonder she earned the award!
After that, it was off to a tour of the Virgin America facilities before heading to my hotel in the Burlingame area. It had been a long and most enjoyable day.
. Have to (regretfully) agree about the butties - especially the brown bread and cheese. The game in UC does seem to have been upped. About to get on the VS2 back to LHR so will be interesting to see how an East/West flight goes.
